Osteospermum plant named ‘DOSTICWHTB’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Osteospermum  cultivar named ‘DOSTICWHTB’ is disclosed, characterized by spreading growth habit, good garden performance during summer and large white flowers with purple eye. The new variety is an  Osteospermum , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Variety denomination: ‘DOSTICWHTB’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Osteospermum cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newOsteospermum varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The openpollination resulting in this new variety was made during January of2011.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to asOsteospermum ‘OS-11-2010’. The pollen parent is unknown as it was anopen pollination breeding program. The new variety was discovered inMarch of 2012 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the2011 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetativecuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel in April of 2012 and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in morethan 10 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DOSTICWHTB’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DOSTICWHTB’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DOSTICWHTB’ as a new and distinct Osteospermumcultivar:

-   -   1. Large white flowers with purple eye.    -   2. Trailing growth habit.    -   3. Good garden performance during the summer.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DOSTICWHTB’ are similar to plants of theseed parent, Osteospermum ‘OS-11-2010’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DOSTICWHTB’ differin the following:

-   -   1. Plant habit is more trailing.    -   2. Tends to blush under low temperatures. The seed parent does        not.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DOSTICWHTB’ are comparable to the unpatentedcommercial variety Osteospermum ‘Astra White’. The two Osteospermumvarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘DOSTICWHTB’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Much larger flowers.    -   2. Flowers later.    -   3. Trailing growth. The comparator growth is erect and compact.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DOSTICWHTB’ are comparable to the commercialvariety Osteospermum ‘DOSTICPWHT’, having application Ser. No.14/545,172. The two Osteospermum varieties are similar in mosthorticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DOSTICWHTB’differs in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘DOSTICWHTB’ are somewhat larger than plants of        ‘DOSTICPWHT’.    -   2. Mature disc florets of ‘DOSTICWHTB’ are Violet-Blue and White        compared to White and Purple disc florets of ‘DOSTICPWHT’.    -   3. Foliage of ‘DOSTICWHTB’ is on average larger than foliage of        ‘DOSTICPWHT’.    -   4. Flowers of ‘DOSTICWHTB’ are on average smaller than flowers        of ‘DOSTICPWHT’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DOSTICWHTB’ grown outdoors, in a 12 cm pot. Age of theplant photographed is approximately 12 weeks from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of a flower.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2001 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DOSTICWHTB’ plants grown in the Autumn andWinter, in a greenhouse, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growingtemperature ranged from 15° C. to 26° C. during the day and from 7° C.to 13° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normalsunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ‘DOSTICWHTB’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 14 days at approximately 18-22° C.-   Root description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 100 days from a rooted    cutting.-   Growth habit: Spreading.-   Height: Approximately 20 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 50 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate growth rate.-   Branching characteristics: Freely branching.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 23 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 1.0 cm.-   Texture of lateral branches: Glabrous.-   Internode length: Approximately 0.8 cm.-   Strength of lateral branches: Flexible.-   Color of lateral branches: Near RHS Yellow-green group 145 C.-   Aspect/angle of branches: 30°.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 70.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Average length.—Approximately 7 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2.3 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Attachment.—Absent.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous, leathery.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance top surface.—Shiny.        -   Appearance bottom surface.—Matte.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137 A. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137 C. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green N137 A. Mature foliage under            side: Near RHS Green 137 C.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate, the main vein is visible, secondary            veins are too minute to see. Venation color upper side: Near            RHS Green 142 A. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-green 144 D.-   Petiole: Absent.

FLOWER

-   Bud:    -   -   Bud shape.—Oblate.        -   Bud length.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Bud diameter.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Bud color.—Near RHS Yellow-green 144 C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with oblanceolate-shaped            ray florets. Inflorescences positioned above and beyond the            foliage; inflorescences terminal and axillary. Disc and ray            florets developing acropetally on a capitulum.            Inflorescences face mostly upright to outward.-   Flower:    -   -   Diameter of entire flower.—Approximately 8 cm.        -   Depth of flower.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Width of disc.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Depth of disc.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—1 cm.        -   Receptacle height.—0.5 cm.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Number of ray florets.—Avg. 24.        -   Length.—Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Color:    -   -   Ray florets.—Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS White            NN155 C. Upper surface at maturity: Near RHS White NN155 D.            Upper surface at fading: Near RHS Red-purple 69 D. Under            surface at first opening: Near RHS Purple-violet N80 C.            Under surface at maturity: Near RHS Purple 76 C. With vine            Near RHS Greyed-green 188 C. Under surface at fading: Near            RHS Purple 76 A.        -   Disc florets.—Number of Disc Florets: Average 140. Length:            Approximately 0.6 cm. Width: Approximately 0.1 cm. Shape:            Bell shaped — campanulate. Margin: Entire. At first opening:            Near RHS White 155 B and Violet-blue 93 A. At maturity: Near            RHS Violet-blue N92 B and White 155 B. At fading: Near RHS            Yellow 13 A.-   Fragrance: None.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Number.—Approximately 19.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Ligulate.        -   Texture.—Rough.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-green 146 A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle length.—Approximately 3 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Angle.—Approximately 0° from center of whorl.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-green 147 B.        -   Peduncle texture.—Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Disc florets:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamens: 120-140. Anther shape: Elliptical.            Anther length: Approximately 0.4 cm. Anther color: Near RHS            Red-purple 72 A. Pollen quantity: Abundant.        -   Gynoecium.—Not present. Pistils in disc flowers are            degenerated and non-functional.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Androecium.—Not present. Stamens in ray flowers are            degenerated and non-functional.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil number: One pistil per ray floret —            Approximately — 26. Pistil shape: Needle shape. Pistil            length: Approx. 0.3 cm. Style length: Approx. 0.1 cm. Style            color: Near RHS Purple 76 C. Stigma shape: Bipartite. Stigma            color: Near RHS Purple 79 D. Ovary diameter: 0.1 cm. Ovary            color: Near RHS Yellow-green 150 B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to normal    diseases and pests of Osteospermum have been observed. Typical    diseases of Osteospermum include: Botrytis, Pythium, Phytopthera,    Rhizoctonia. Typical pests found in Osterspermum include various    species of Aphid, Fungus Gnats and Thrips.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Good tolerance for heat, to at    least 40° C. Drought tolerant.-   Fruit/seed production: Seed set has been observed. Fruit is a    seed-like achene.    -   -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Color.—Near RHS Grey-Brown N199 B.        -   Size.—Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plantnamed ‘DOSTICWHTB’ as herein illustrated and described.